The Orange County Transit Authority recently received a $200,000 award to minimize transportation-generated pollution for projects in Laguna Beach.

The city is matching those funds with more than $360,000 of its own.

The funds are derived from the Measure M2 environmental program, 2 percent of the half-cent sales tax approved in 2006 that will be used to protect waterways.

“Orange County voters approved using a percentage of M2 to keep our oceans clean, which will make a long-lasting, positive impact on our quality of life and economy,” said OCTA Chair Patricia Bates, also the Fifth District Supervisor.

Of 47 proposed projects, 34 of those, including two in Laguna Beach, received funding under this first award of M2 water quality funds.

The funds awarded will be used to purchase two continuous deflection separators, which capture floatable trash, debris and sediment from large drainage areas.